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Significant Cases

Significant Cases In California Employment and Civil Rights Law

From the Los Angeles Employment Law Firm of Allred, Maroko & Goldberg

For 38 years, the law firm of
Allred, Maroko & Goldberg has been protecting the rights of people across California involved in high-profile legal matters. We have secured more than $100 million for our clients in just the past five years.

Most of our cases, however, involve everyday people whose rights have been violated in the workplace or elsewhere. Below are a few of our notable cases. Some have set legal precedent. Others are notable for the legal theories set forth and/or the damages recovered.

We invite you to learn more about how
Allred, Maroko & Goldberg can help you. Fill out the Contact Us form on the right side of this page to schedule a consultation.

Sexual Harassment

$18.4 Million Verdict - James Stevens v. Vons
Mr. Stevens was employed in the receiving department of Vons supermarkets for more than 25 years. After complaining to the company about ongoing sexual harassment by his female supervisor, he was transferred to a less desirable store location and subjected to a two-year campaign of retaliation, ending in his termination. At trial a jury awarded Mr. Stevens $1.67 million in compensatory and over $16 million in punitive damages for a total amount of $18.4 million plus attorney's fees. >
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Over $5 Million Verdict - Straight Male In an unusual case, a straight male sued another straight male for sexual harassment occurring at his workplace. A jury awarded our client in excess of $5 million.

$2.5 Million Settlement - A Group of Women Employees
We represented numerous young women who were sexually harassed by the manager while applying for a job with a national chain. The company resolved our clients' claims after litigation commenced, prior to trial.

Six Figure Settlement - Female Employee
A female employee was sexually harassed by her supervisor. We won a six-figure jury award despite the fact that our client was not fired from her job and did not lose any pay. This case created a better climate for employees to come forward with sexual harassment claims without fear of termination or retaliation.

Six Figure Settlement - Female Employees of a Non-profit
Sexual harassment and retaliation charges were brought against the CEO of a non-profit organization. Our clients alleged that the CEO liked to surround himself with young female employees whom he would require to accompany him on trips where he would demand sex from them. Those who refused were transferred to less desirable positions. We were able to mediate a substantial 6-figure settlement.

$100,000 Settlement - Female Store Clerk A female store clerk was egregiously sexually harassed and stalked by her supervisor for several months. The company did not act quickly enough on her complaints and the situation worsened for her as a result of the store's inaction, causing her to quit her job. Thereafter her supervisor was fired but our client was emotionally unable to return to work. After a year, we were able to resolve her situation and she was able to return to work with a better position at a different store location. She received $100,000, as well as the new position.

At
Allred, Maroko & Goldberg, we believe the best method for effecting social change after experiencing harassment or discrimination is to expose the violation and inflict real, financial damages on the offender. This is often the only way to ensure that the offense is corrected and never repeated.

Discrimination

Age Discrimination

$15 Million Settlement for Circuit City Employees In 2007, Circuit City terminated thousands of workers nationwide because they earned 51 cents or more above the established pay rate, they were then told they could reapply for jobs earning far less. We filed a class action suit on behalf of 217 former California employees contending that these layoffs discriminated against older employees who tended to be the higher wage earners, a violation of California law. The Los Angeles Superior Court agreed and approved a settlement of 15 million dollars.

Over $5 Million - Dr. Fawzy Salama v King/Drew Medical Center At age 49, Dr. Fawzy Salama, a medical doctor born and trained in Egypt, was accepted as an intern in the anesthesiology department at the Medical Center. The Center subsequently rescinded the offer. Shortly after being told of his rejection, Dr. Salama suffered a heart attack. The matter proceeded to trial and a Los Angeles jury returned a verdict of over $5 million in favor of Dr. Salama on his age discrimination claim.

Race/Ethnicity/Country of Origin Discrimination

$3.6 Million Verdict - Group of Minority Male Employees We represented a group of men of different races and ethnicities who were subjected to very offensive racial slurs, epithets and racially-based drawings. The men had repeatedly complained to upper management and to the company's human resources department. The company failed to take action. The matter was vigorously litigated and was ultimately resolved for $3.6 million.

Six Figure Settlement - Employees Against a Media Outlet
Disparate treatment favoring employees from one particular country resulted in our client being fired and replaced by an ethnically "desirable" but less qualified candidate. We overcame the employer's argument that the case was controlled by an arbitration agreement. Our mediation efforts resulted in a settlement in the high six figures.

Gender Discrimination

$1.68 Million Settlement Women Farm Workers A group experienced female farm workers went to apply to pick table grapes for a Delano, California grower, but were told that the business did not want women and that all women are lazy. Although the grower filled approximately 300 positions each year between 1998 and 2002, no women were hired in that time period. Our partner Tomas Olmos filed a class action suit and won an historic victory.

$440,000 Settlement - Female Bank Executive v. Bank A female banking executive was recruited from another state to run a large division of the bank. After arriving she was excluded from decision-making and was denigrated by the all-male executive team. Within a year she was relegated to lower-level duties, ignored and demeaned. We were able to settle her matter within two months, without court intervention, for $440,000.

Disability Discrimination / Violation of ADA

Close to $1 Million Settlement - Disabled Employee A woman was employed by a company for 25 years and helped the company grow into a prosperous enterprise. She began suffering from a disability and the company terminated her employment due to her disability. The matter was resolved pre-litigation for close to one million dollars.

Settlement - Disabled Executive Employee
After being diagnosed with a brain tumor, a 62-year-old executive was suddenly told that his company did not need him anymore after many years of service. He believed his company did not want to deal with his upcoming need for leave and possibly restricted job duties. We were able to negotiate a settlement for him without the necessity of litigation, which gave him ample health care and the ability to heal without financial worries.

Other Types of Cases

At Allred, Maroko & Goldberg, we are proud of the very real difference we have made in the lives of people. We focus on protecting the civil rights of California employees and private citizens, regardless of their public stature. Our attorneys have been instrumental in changing both public policy and public perception.

"The Biggest Civil Rights Case in Decades"

Same-Sex Marriage, March 4, 2008
For almost four hours, the California Supreme Court heard arguments regarding the right of same-sex couples to marry. Gloria Allred and Michael Maroko were prominent among the advocates appearing before the court, representing clients Robin Tyler, Diane Olson, Rev. Troy Perry, and Phillip Ray DeBlieck.

Family Law / Parental Rights

Parental "Move Away" Rights
Divorced mother, Wendy Burgess, sought to move 40 miles away to a better job and a better place to raise her kids. Ms. Burgess had physical custody of her children. The lower court denied her request to move. We appealed to the California Supreme Court arguing that a custodial parent should have the right to move for good faith reasons (such as a better job, educational opportunities for children, return to a family support system, a new marriage), as long as the move was not motivated by an intent to keep children from the other parent. We prevailed for Ms. Burgess, setting legal precedent and paving the way for untold parents who wanted the best possible life for their families.

Use of Fertilized Eggs
Our client, a woman who had undergone fertility treatments at a university medical center, learned that another woman had been illegally implanted with her fertilized eggs. The other woman had borne a son from a fertilized egg. Our client's medical records had disappeared from the clinic and the doctors responsible had fled the country. Our client received a significant settlement from the medical center.

Equal Treatment for Public Services

We have also fought and won for women who were being charged more than men for equal service in such areas as dry-cleaning, clothes alterations and children's haircuts.

Other

Sandra Bardenilla v. Kaiser Medical Facility A nurse objected to arbitrary medical practices in feeding and hydrating comatose patients. This case pre-dated the Terri Schiavo controversy by almost 25 years. The jury found for our client on wrongful discharge and breach of implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.

Rolon / Johnson v. Papa Choux
A committed lesbian couple were denied seats in the "romantic dining" section of a popular restaurant. The lower court judge denied a request for injunction. The Court of Appeals reversed that decision a year later.

Contact us today: 323-302-4774

The California civil rights lawyers at Allred, Maroko & Goldberg represent the powerless against those who abuse power over them.
CONTACT our Los Angeles offices for a case screening and evaluation from an experienced California employment attorney.

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If you have suffered personally or professionally because of harassment, discrimination or wrongful termination, please review our history, qualifications and past success. Contact us via phone at 323-302-4774 or use the form below.

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Allred, Maroko & Goldberg is one of the largest employment law firms in California focusing on issues of harassment, discrimination and wrongful termination. A whistleblower attorney or civil rights lawyer from AMG can advocate on behalf of clients throughout CA, including Santa Ana, Anaheim, Irvine, Newport Beach, Burbank, Santa Monica, Compton, Pasadena, San Fernando, Long Beach, Glendale, San Diego and all of Los Angeles and Orange County. Allred, Maroko & Goldberg.